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The following FAQ (frequently asked questions) are designed to provide
information to anyone interested in taking CBT courses and students
taking CBT courses at Mid-State Technical College.
What
is a CBT course?
CBT (Computer-Based Training) is a convenient and flexible alternative
to traditional classroom-based training. CBT courses are designed
to deliver “education-on-demand.” Instead of having
to set aside time for classroom training, CBT courses provide just-in-time
training whenever and wherever it’s needed. CBT courses are
used by more than 1,350 of the world's leading corporations to train
their employees.
SkillSoft
develops MSTC’s CBT courses. The courses are designed and
developed at the company’s Dublin, Ireland-based R&D facility,
the largest in-house courseware development center in the industry.
The company’s development teams are led by educational instructors,
who assemble expert instructional designers, writers, editors, and
information systems specialists for each project.
SkillSoft
CBTs include a consistent easy-to-use graphical interface that leads
students through a subject, simulating the technology and requiring
students to interact with the course. SkillSoft has developed a
unique and highly successful four-step model for teaching skills:
concepts first, then demonstration, guidance, and independent practice.
Students interact with SkillSoft courses in two ways: by answering
course “discovery” questions and by performing “hands-on”
procedural simulation and coding exercises. The interactive software
enables the student to receive a tailored educational experience.
A more advanced student can skip, or skim through the course modules
covering already mastered skills. Students are therefore able to
learn only those specific aspects of the technology that are critical
to them.
SkillSoft
has established partnerships with the leading information technology
companies to deliver libraries of vendor-authorized, certification-level
courseware, covering a diverse group of networking, database, Internet,
and end-user application products and technologies. CBT courses
are a instructor-facilitated, computer-assisted instructional delivery
system. CBT courses are carefully structured for content and interactivity.
While the primary instruction is delivered via the computer, an
instructor with content expertise is matched with the course for
additional student support and instruction.
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What CBT courses are currently available?
A comprehensive listing of all the CBT courses is located on the
CBT Course Offerings webpage. Included in the listings are the
hours, credits, fees, and links to a course description page.
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Are
there any prerequisites?
To take a CBT course, you must have basic computer literacy skills.
You should be able to use a mouse, use a browser, create a directory,
and have a fundamental understanding of the Windows operating system.
For the beginning student, we suggest enrolling in a traditional
instructor-led Windows Operating Systems class prior to taking CBT
Internet courses.
Some
CBT courses have additional prerequisites. These prerequisites are
described in the course descriptions.
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How
do I get started?
First, you must register for the course(s) you want to take. You
may register by telephone, mail, or in person by visiting one of
the MSTC campus centers. Students are required to pay all fees when
they register. You may pay by cash, check, or credit card. If you
wish to register by telephone, call the Adams Center at 608.339.3379,
the Marshfield Campus at 715.387.2538, the Stevens Point Campus
at 715.344.3063 or the Wisconsin Rapids Campus at 715.422.5300.
Have the course number and name, personal information, and your
credit card number handy to speed the registration process.
Additional
information on how to register for CBT Internet courses is located
on the CBT Registration page.
Once
you are registered for a CBT course, you will receive a letter containing
course information and instructions on how to access the course.
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What
is a total course?
A course name that ends with the word “all” includes
all of the courses listed in that cluster. By enrolling in the total
course you will save money by not paying a small activity fee like
you do for each individual course. In addition, fees and credits
are calculated on the total number of hours.
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Why
don't the total course credits add up to the individual course credits
in a cluster?
The “total” course credits are calculated based on a
formula. Fifteen hours of a CBT course is equal to one credit. Rounding
up to the nearest .05 (five hundredths) causes some variances. To
calculate credits, divide the number of hours by fifteen.
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How
do I know who my CBT instructor is?
Instructors are assigned based upon content expertise. CBT instructors
are listed on the Course Offerings web page. The instructor will
provide assistance with course content, but not technical assistance.
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How
do I obtain technical assistance for CBT courses?
SkillSoft provides technical support for CBT courses. You can reach
SkillSoft technical support at 800.938-3247.
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Is there a refund policy for CBT courses?
Refunds will be:
80%
if less than 11% of the courses' total potential hours of instruction
have passed since the course was first accessed.
60%
if 11-20% percent of the courses' total potential hours of instruction
have passed since the course was first accessed.
0%
after more than 20% of the courses' total potential hours of instruction
have passed since the course was first accessed.
Note:
A refund for a four-hour (240 minutes) CBT course can only be given
if less than 48 minutes has passed since the course was first accessed.
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How
am I graded in a CBT course?
Each CBT course has computerized unit tests based upon the material
that you have learned. The computer will keep track of your score
for the tests and the CBT Administrator will receive a report of
your test scores. Based on your test scores, grades are assigned
on the following scale:
96-100%
competency = A
91-95% competency = B
86-90% competency = C
81-85% competency = D
80% or lower competency = F
The
CBT Administrator’s report indicates progress in the units
of the CBT courses. These reports must indicate that students have
completed each unit or the test scores for the unit will not be
accepted.
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Can
I audit a CBT course?
Yes. If you wish to audit a course, please inform registration personnel
when you register. Also inform your CBT instructor that you are
auditing the course. The audit option does not reduce the actual
cost of the CBT course. When you audit a course you receive an AU
grade that is not based on testing. Courses that are audited cannot
be applied to meet elective requirements of Associate Degree programs.
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How
much time do I have to complete my CBT courses?
All CBT courses must be completed during the semester term that
you enrolled in the course. The fall semester runs until the end
of December, the spring semester runs until the end of May and the
summer semester runs until the end of August. Contact the instructor
for exact semester end dates.
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I
did not finish my course; can I get an incomplete?
If there are extenuating circumstances and you have not completed
all of the course requirements by the end of the Semester Term and
you have made reasonable progress, your CBT instructor may choose
to issue an IP - In Progress grade. In that case, you will have
an additional six weeks to complete the course.
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Will
the CBT courses transfer to an Associate Degree program at Mid-State
Technical College?
Yes, but as elective credit only! CBT courses do not meet specific
program course requirements. They may prepare you to test out of
a course, if a course test-out is available. Contact the Division
Dean for test-out information.
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What
are the recommended minimum hardware requirements to run CBT courses?
- Pentium class PC
- Windows 95/98, or Windows NT 4.0
- 100MB available hard drive space
- 32MB RAM for Windows 95/98 or 64MB RAM for Windows NT
- 28.8 or faster Modem
- Netscape 4.5 or higher or Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher.
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